Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-04

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below shows average carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The graph illustrates the average amount of carbon dioxide released per person in four countries between 1967 and 2007.

Overall, United Kingdom recorded the highest emissions while Portugal had the least amount of carbon dioxide released over the period. The gap between the two categories was quite noticeable.

Initially, Portugal recorded 1 metric ton, this figures increased gradually to around 3 metric tons in 1987 and nearly 5 metric tons by the end of the period. Similarly, Italy had slightly above 4 metric tons 1967. The values went up slowly to slightly above 6 metric tons in 1997 and around 7 metric tons in 1987 accordingly. Between 1997 and 2007, the curve remained relatively stable with a figure slightly below 8 metric tons.

On the other hand, Sweden showed a downward trend with figures dropping from around 11 metric tons in 1967 to a value slightly above 8 metric tons in 2007. United Kingdom rose from a figure close to 9 metric tons in 1967 to slightly above 10 metric tons over a decade. After that, the values decreased to around 7 metric tons in 1987 and by 2007, the values were close to 5 metric tons.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview. You selected key features, such as the downward trend for Sweden and the upward trend for Portugal, and made relevant comparisons. However, there are significant factual inaccuracies regarding the data. For instance, you stated the UK rose to 10 metric tons 'over a decade' and then decreased to 7 in 1987, which does not accurately reflect the provided graph. Additionally, the description of Italy's data contains inconsistencies regarding the years mentioned. To improve, ensure that your data points are precisely aligned with the visual information provided, as accuracy is a core component of Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'Overall,' 'Initially,' 'Similarly,' and 'On the other hand' to guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different trends. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by the factual errors mentioned in the Task Achievement section, which makes the progression of data feel disjointed. The use of referencing is generally clear, but ensure that the transition between different countries is smoother to enhance the overall readability of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, using terms like 'downward trend,' 'gradually,' 'remained relatively stable,' and 'metric tons.' This allows for some flexibility in your writing. There are a few instances where word choice could be more precise, such as 'the values went up slowly' or 'the curve remained.' While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more sophisticated collocations or varied verbs to describe movement (e.g., 'fluctuated,' 'peaked,' 'declined steadily') would help elevate your score. The spelling is accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The graph illustrates...' and 'While the values went up...'. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'United Kingdom recorded' (missing the article 'the') and 'this figures increased' (subject-verb agreement error). Additionally, some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'Italy had slightly above 4 metric tons 1967.' Despite these errors, the meaning is generally clear, and the mistakes do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, focus on consistent use of articles and ensuring subject-verb agreement in more complex sentence constructions.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.